International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 3, March 2016
ISSN 2250-3153
Optimization of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) loading in
Natural rubber latex based disposable gloves
Wijesinghe H.G.I.M.*, Gamage W.G.T.W.*, Ariyananda P.**, Jayasinghe H.A.S.L.* Weerawansha A.N.R.*
*
Department of Export Agriculture, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agricultural, Uva Wellassa University, Badulla, Sri Lanka
**
Regional Innovation Centre, Industrial Clothing Limited, Spur Road, Phase 1, KEPZ, Katunayake, Sri Lanka
Abstract- Glove manufacturing and exporting industry in Sri
Lanka is placed as one of the top manufactures of the world
which also contributes more than 5% of global demand. Natural
rubber latex is one of the most important polymer materials
which is widely used for manufacturing of gloves. Centrifuged
latex contains 60% dry rubber content is used for glove
manufacturing process. Addition of fillers may have a potential
to improve the stiffness like inferior properties of Natural rubber
and simultaneously reduces the cost of production by replacing
part of rubber by the fillers. Among the types of fillers used with
Natural rubber, calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) which generally
categorizes under non-reinforcing filler is widely used in glove
industry due to its availability and the fewer prices. Optimization
of calcium carbonate amount in rubber matrices is essential to
keep the required limits of specification of physio-mechanical
properties in gloves. In this study CaCO 3 filled Natural rubber
latex disposable glove samples were successfully prepared by
varying the CaCO 3 loading level from 20 phr to 45 phr at 5 phr
intervals. Tensile strength, elongation at break and force at break
were investigated as per the physio-mechanical properties of
each sample at aged (after aging) and unaged (before aging)
conditions. The experiment was conducted in complete
randomized design with 3 replicates per each sample. Thirty
(30phr) CaCO 3 loading level was indicated the best tensile
strength of unaged and aged above 17 N/mm2, elongation at
break of aged and unaged samples above 700% and force at
break of unaged samples above 9N and aged samples above
6.3N. The results of the statistical analysis indicate that the 30
phr CaCO 3 loading level can be considered as the optimum
CaCO 3 loading level compared to the specifications of the
physio-mechanical properties of natural rubber latex disposable
gloves.
Index Terms- Centrifuged latex, dispersion, elongation at break,
force at break and tensile strength
I. INTRODUCTION
N atural rubber (NR) latex is a milky colloidal system consists
of cis-1, 4-polyisoprene, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals,
fatty acids and large amount of water. Dry rubber content of the
latex is approximately 28-40%. Polyisoprene is a polymer of cis-
1, 4-butadiene having a broad molecular weight distribution with
a high structural regularity. Due to this reason, natural rubber
(NR) tends to crystallize spontaneously at low temperatures or
when it is stretched (Poompradub S., 2005). Natural rubber has
outstanding resilience, flexibility, tear and tensile strength, as
266
well as low heat build-up and resistance to abrasion due to its
high molecular weight and chemical nature (De Silva K.G.K.,
2003). Before manufacture any latex product, NR latex is
concentrated up to 60% dry rubber content by centrifuging and
ammonia and soaps are added to stabilize the latex without
flocculating.
When consider the largest application by far for NR latex
which is gloves, are produced in very large numbers on highly
automated production lines. This industry relies on natural rubber
latex due to its ability to form smooth and continuous films on
formers; the dried and vulcanized films have high strength and
outstanding elasticity.
Among the types of gloves, disposable gloves are made by
the coagulant dipping process. In this process former is initially
dipped in a coagulant bath and then it is dipped in the
compounded latex to get a thin film of latex on the former.
Several chemical ingredients such as vulcanizing agents,
activators, accelerators, antioxidants, stabilizers, dispersion
agents and wetting agents are used to compound NR latex in
glove manufacturing process (Heijden and Baarle, 2000).
Sulphur is used as the primary vulcanizing agent with Zinc oxide
as an activator and one or more ultra-fast accelerators.
Fillers represent one of the most important additives used in
rubber compounding. Fillers are added to the rubber formulation
in order to optimize properties needed for application (Sobby et
al., 2003). Fillers are generally added to latex compound to
modify its physio-mechanical properties and to reduce cost of
production by replacing part of the rubber by fillers. The use of
fillers in rubber products is nearly as old as the use of rubber
itself. As reported by Blackley (1966), filler is a solid material
capable of changing the physical and chemical properties of
materials by surface interaction. The nature of fillers can be
reinforcing or non- reinforcing. Carbon black is prepared from
crude oil in different techniques (i.e. channel method) which is
highly consumed as reinforcing fillers while silica is also
considered as reinforcing filler (Subramanium K., 2002). But in
glove manufacturing industry, white mineral fillers such as clays,
calcium carbonates and silicates are mostly used. Most of these
fillers are non-reinforcing and the use of these fillers can reduce
the cost of production as well as it improves the stiffness and
other mechanical properties of gloves up to some extent (Gorton
Tony, 1994). Other than these fillers, organic fillers which are
based on high styrene polymeric resinous materials do not
necessarily increase tensile strength as carbon black like
reinforcing fillers, but they greatly harden, or stiffen the rubber
and improve wearing properties of products (Baarle, 2005).
In the disposable glove manufacturing process, Calcium
carbonate is widely used as the major filler material due to its
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International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 3, March 2016 267
ISSN 2250-3153

availability and less cost. It is easy to grind or reduce the size of
particles to a specific particle size and it is compatible with a
wide range of polymeric resins. When the particle size is
carefully controlled, calcium carbonate contributes to increase
both impact strength and flexural modulus (stiffness) of glove
(Anon, 2014). Therefore, there is a possibility of replacing a
certain amount of natural rubber in gloves by incorporating filler,
while maintaining the expected physio-mechanical properties at
unaged (before aging) and aged ( after aging) conditions of
samples, to achieve that, the optimization of calcium carbonate
loading level into NR is beneficial in commercial scale.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials
Centrifuged NR latex, calcium carbonate, other analytical
grade laboratory chemicals and laboratory equipment were
supplied by Industrial Clothing (Pvt) Ltd, Prime Polymer
Division, Avissawella and experiments were conducted during
2015/05/01 to 2015/10/05
Method
Sample Preparation
Each compounded NR latex sample was prepared by
compounding 3kg of preserved centrifuged NR latex and calcium
carbonate filler as explained in the Table 1 while keeping
constant the amounts of other chemical ingredients in standard
compounding formulation. Calcium carbonate loading was
changed from 20 phr (parts per hundred parts of rubber) to 45 phr
at 5 phr intervals (S1-S6). Sample which contains 20 phr of
calcium carbonate loading was taken as the control sample (S1)
because it was the calcium carbonate loading level widely used
in disposable glove manufacturing industry.
Table 2: ISO Standards for Physio-mechanical Properties
Properties ISO Test Method
Tensile strength ISO 37-1977(E)
Elongation at break ISO 37-1977(E)
Resistance to heat aging ISO 188, ASTM D 573
Tensile strength of samples was examined to measure the
maximum ability of glove samples to withstand to an applied
stress by universal tensile testing machine INSTRON model
3365, with a cross-head speed of 500 mm/min. Three specimens
were used for each measurement and the average was taken for
calculations. Elongation at break of the test pieces was measured
from the same tensile machine to investigate the maximum
elongation at the tensile strength. Aged tensile properties of
samples were investigated using an aging oven by aging samples
for 24 hours at 100C.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Figure 1 shows the tensile strength of glove samples which
are unaged (before aging) and aged (after aging). According to
the results, the highest unaged tensile strength has been recorded
by S3 (30 phr) and it is statistically different with the rest of the
samples. Unaged tensile strength of S1 (20 phr), S 2 (25 phr), S 4
(35 phr) and S 5 (40 phr) are statistically on par with each other.
Aged tensile strengths are on par with one another by achieving
the highest at 30 phr calcium carbonate loading level. The
lowest tensile strength has been recorded by S5 (40 phr) in both
aged and unaged samples.
Unaged Aged
30 a
Tensile Strength (N/mm2 )

Table 1: Calcium Carbonate Filler Loading Level b b b b

25
Sample Filler Loading (phr) 20
a a a a
S 1 (Control) 20 a
S2 25 15
S3 30
10
S4 35
S5 40 5
S6 45
0
Then a standard former was dipped into each compounded 20 25 30 35 40
NR latex sample for 1 minute as the dwell time and withdrawn
Filler Loading (phr)
former was rotated to get an evenly thick, thin latex film on the
former surface. The former was dried at 80C for 10 minutes to
remove moisture and cured at 120C for 20 minutes in a dried air Figure 1: Tensile Strength of Aged and Unaged Glove with
circulating oven. Then glove samples were stripped, thumblered Filler Loading
and chlorinated.
To select the best treatment, it should be fallen with the
Physio-mechanical properties product specification of NR latex disposable glove. According to
Tensile strength (N/mm2) and elongation at break (%) were the product specification which industrially accepted for the NR
investigated as physio-mechanical properties of prepared glove latex disposable glove unaged and aged tensile properties of the
samples according to the ISO standards mentioned in Table 2. glove must be greater than 17 N/mm2. Unaged tensile properties
of the all treatments are greater than 17 N/mm2 but aged tensile
properties only S1, S2 and S3 treatments are greater than 17

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International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 3, March 2016
ISSN 2250-3153
N/mm2 and S4 and S5 treatments are less than the specified value
17 N/mm2.
There is a remarkable reduction of aged tensile strength
with filler loading level. Such a phenomenon is attributed to the
heating of the films, which caused enhanced stiffening as a result
of the interaction of the curatives with the filler particles and the
rubber molecules (Srivastava et al, 2010).
According to the Figure 2, the highest elongation at break in
unaged sample has been achieved by S1 (20 phr) which is
statistically different to the other samples. In aged glove samples,
the highest elongation at break has been recorded by S3 (30 phr)
that is statistically different other treatments. S1 (20 phr) and S2
(25 phr) are statistically on par with each other in both before and
after aging. The lowest elongation at break has been recorded by
S5 (40 phr) in both aged and unaged samples. Also the S3 has
lower elongation at break, and previously it has got the
maximum tensile strength. Therefore, it could have the optimum
calcium carbonate loading compared to the other samples
prepared.
Unaged Aged
900
a a
Elongation at Break (% )
850
ab ab
ab
800
bc b
750 c Filler Loading
c
700
650
600
20 25 30 35 40
Filler Loading (phr)
Figure 2: Elongation at Break of Aged and Unaged Glove
with Filler Loading
There is an increment of aged elongation at break at S3 (30
phr). The reason could be the formation of sulfur bonds at aging
conditions which presents as residue without participating to the
vulcanization. According to the product specification given for
the NR latex disposable glove unaged and aged elongation at
break properties of the glove must be greater than 700 (%).
Unaged and aged elongation at break of all samples is fallen
within the standard level of NR latex disposable glove.
Therefore, there is a potential to use these filler loading levels in
NR disposable glove manufacturing. But to keep the tensile
strength above the standards it has to omit the S4 and S5 filler
loading levels because they have shown a lower aged tensile
strength in comparison to unaged tensile strengths of S4 and S5.
As illustrated in Figure 3, the highest unaged force at break has
been achieved by S3 (30 phr) that is statistically different with
other samples. S1 (20 phr), S2 (25 phr),) S3 (30 phr) and S5 (40
phr) are statistically on par with each other. The lowest force at
break was recorded by the S4 (35 phr). There is a remarkable
reduction of aged force at break with filler loading phr compared
to unaged force at break. The reason may be the stiffening as a
result of the interaction of the curatives with the filler particles
and the rubber molecules. Aged tensile properties have reduced
and as the result of that aged force at break has reduced.
268
According to the product specification given for the NR latex
disposable glove unaged force at break must be greater than 9 N.
Unaged force at break in sample S3 is greater than that of 9N,
also force at break of S1, S2 and S3 samples are not significantly
different according to the statistical analysis. Force at break in
aged samples of S4 and S5 have much deviated from the S1, S2
and S3 samples.
Unaged Aged
10
ab a
9
ab
ab
8 b
Force at Break (N)
7 a a a
6
b b
5
4
3
2
1
0
20 25 30 35 40
Filler Loading (phr)
Figure 3: Force at Break of Aged and Unaged Glove with
b
Therefore, there is a potential to use 20, 25 and 30 phr
calcium carbonate loading levels by achieving better physio-
mechanical properties in NR latex disposable gloves. But at
higher levels of filler loading, the inferior properties have
indicated.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
The results of the investigation revealed that the physical
properties of natural rubber latex disposable gloves are affected
by changing amounts of CaCO 3 filler loading phr. There is a
significant effect of different amount of filler dispersions on
tensile strength, elongation at break and force at break.
Study indicated that the S3 sample containing 30 phr of
calcium carbonate can be considered as the best sample
compared to the specifications of the properties of natural rubber
latex disposable gloves. Samples having 30 phr calcium
carbonate loading (S3) has been resulted the best tensile strength
for unaged and aged glove samples which is above 17 N/mm2.
Elongation at break of aged and unaged glove samples is above
700% as well as force at break of unaged glove samples is above
9N and that in aged glove samples is above 6N. Even though S3
has a lower force at break in aged glove sample, its tensile
strength and elongation at break have achieved the required
specifications. Also S1, S2 and S3 samples have not shown a
significant variation with each other with respect to the force at
break according to the statistical analysis. Also to reduce the cost
of production it is essential to use maximum amount of fillers by
keeping the optimum physio-mechanical properties in the
product.
Therefore, the S3 contains the optimum amount of CaCO 3
filler dispersion (30 phr) which is important to reduce the cost of
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International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 3, March 2016
ISSN 2250-3153
production. Similarly, it contains good physical properties
compare to the standard level of physio-mechanical properties of
natural rubber latex disposable glove.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Authors would like to acknowledge to Dr. I.S.B Abesinghe,
Manager, Dr. P. Ariyananda and all the technical staff of the
Biology Laboratory, Industrial Clothing (Pvt) Ltd, Prime
Polymer Division, Avissawella for their assistance during the
experiments and as well as to academic staff of Department of
Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University, Badulla, Sri
Lanka.
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AUTHORS
First Author Wijesinghe H.G.I.M.- B.Sc.(sp) Uva Wellassa
University, Sri Lanka, M.Sc. in Polymer Science and
Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
Institute: Department of Export Agriculture, Faculty of Animal
Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University,
Badulla Sri Lanka. ishara_wijesinghe@yahoo.com
Second Author Gamage W.G.T.W. - B.Sc. (sp) Uva Wellassa
University, Sri Lanka. Institute: Department of Export
Agriculture, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture,
Uva Wellassa University, Badulla Sri Lanka.
thameerawimukthi@gmail.com
Third Author Ariyananda P. PhD, Institute: Regional
Innovation Centre, Industrial Clothing Limited, Spur Road,
Phase 1, KEPZ, Katunayake, Sri Lanka
Third Author Jayasinghe H.A.S.L. - B.Sc. (sp), Uva Wellassa
University, Sri Lanka, M.Sc. University of Peradeniya, Sri
Lanka. Institute: Department of Export Agriculture, Faculty of
Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa
University, Badulla Sri Lanka. sadeekalayomi@yahoo.com
Third Author Weerawansha A.N.R. - B.Sc. (sp), Uva
Wellassa University, Sri Lanka, M.Sc. University of Peradeniya,
Sri Lanka. Institute: Department of Export Agriculture, Faculty
of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa
University, Badulla Sri Lanka. rumesh.ctc@gmail.com
Correspondence Author Wijesinghe H.G.I.M.,
ishara_wijesinghe@yahoo.com
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